Nathan Blake says Cardiff City’s transformation under interim boss Omer Riza has been “huge”.

The Bluebirds beat Portsmouth 2-0 on Tuesday courtesy of Callum Robinson’s fourth goal of the season and an own goal from Wales international Regan Poole.

The win means Cardiff have collected 10 of the last 12 points on offer under Riza, who has stated he wants the job permanently following the sacking of Erol Bulut a month ago.

And former Cardiff striker Blake believes Riza has put himself in pole position to become Cardiff manager on a full-time basis.

“I think the transformation has been huge, why not give the job to Omer Riza,” he told BBC Radio Wales.

“Sometimes you can be looking for something that’s right under your nose. People will say that he hasn’t got the experience, but unless he’s given an opportunity, you won’t know.

“On the back of these two performances [against Portsmouth and Plymouth Argyle], it’s like night and day/. The players are clearly playing for the manager. You want to keep this momentum going if you’re Cardiff City – he’s done himself no harm.”

Cardiff were rampant as they raced into a two-goal lead before the break against John Mousinho’s Portsmouth, who saw Paddy Lane and Nicolas Schmid leave the pitch through injury to compound a wretched first half.

The game evened out in the second period, although the Bluebirds dug in to keep a third successive home clean sheet.

“Everybody impressed [against Portsmouth], it was all 11 and the subs, it was a dominant performance,” Blake added.

“Pompey weren’t in the game. Watching the game you’d think Cardiff City were in the top six and Pompey were bottom.”